Harbor Maneuvers

[Jeanneau]

YouTube displayed a dramatic video from Svaneke Harbour, a small town on the Danish island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic. A sailboat Delphia 40' with nine Poles aboard, sail into the harbor in high winds (up to 22 meters per second). The boat had been sailing 26 hours from Gdynia in Poland.
On board was only one person with sailing experience.
I wouldn't have the balls to try that approach, knowing that harbor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBsA3wa5OGE

[maytrix]

Wow..

I'd say that was a whole lot of luck mixed with some good skills.

[sabray]

Balls some's it up

[Jeanneau]

Someone wrote on the Polish forum:
"Un-be-lie-va-ble. The guy on the foredeck would have been catapulted straight into the harbour pub had they hit the pier planing at that speed"

[Surveyor]

Made it look easy. Although they glided in what seems to be effortlessly, would it have not been better to stay out and wait for the weather?

[Unicorn Dreams]

Captain Ron at the helm?

[Capt Phil]

I've crossed a lot of bars off the west coast but never with that tight an entry except maybe Fort Bragg with a dredge anchored right at the entrance. Even then I had at least 5 more feet on each side of the vessel than these guys. Looks like he almost broached on the line up! Nerves of steel, I'd say!

[Jeanneau]

Originally Posted by Surveyor

Made it look easy. Although they glided in what seems to be effortlessly, would it have not been better to stay out and wait for the weather?

It would certainly be better.

[Capt Phil]

I would have stood off, but I'm the cautious type. Good seamanship handling the boat nevertheless. They may have had a crew member down or some other good reason to push on through (the pub was closing?). One thing I've learned is not to substitute my judgement for someone who is there. I've made some really dumb moves and survived and been called an idiot deservedly but lived to sail another day... Capt Phil

[Jeanneau]

I hope to find out what the reason was to push for entry. I'm curious myself. As you can see (55 sek) the harbor was closed.

[Nibiruwayne]

Amen to Capt. Phil,
I had a similar experience in Lagos, Portugal. Following sea, 25meter wide inlet, 6' at low tide. We had a wave train with big troughs and breaking over the entrance bar. To maintain steerage entry speed had to exceed wave speed by 3 to 4 knots. If we had met the bar in a trough, I fear we would have wrecked for sure and a collision with the sand bar would have immediately stopped the boat nad likely have injured all of us. It was my boat, I was at the helm, but I listened to the licensed captain on board and followed his advice against my judgment. I will never try something someone else is pushing for if I don't feel competent and agree with the maneuver and think it is safe for the crew and the vessel.

[maytrix]

Originally Posted by Jeanneau

It would certainly be better.

Smarter too.

I'm amazed at the comments when stories like this are posted - nearly praising the captain.

Unless someone on board was in distress and needed immediate medical care, it was really a reckless move which endangered everyone on board. No matter how much the captain thought he was in control, I don't believe you could ever be in full control in conditions like that. A large gust, unplanned wave or anything else could change the outcome.

[David M]

Sorry but....Retard!

Wait for the surf to drop for gods sake. Why put the innocent at risk? A captain has no right to play with others lives like that. I would never do the same to the lives I am responsible for.

[Capt Phil]

Good point, Maytrix... folks think they are in control right up to the moment they find themselves in an 'OH SH-T" situation. Better to be cautious and try not to get in that position. I'd also be interested to know what the forward forcast was... perhaps the last chance for a couple of days to make port, illness or injury aboard, gear failure, whatever. It was still a piece of steady seamanship threading the needle in those sea conditions. Wasn't there so didn't have to make the call...

[Ben M-P]

Now THAT is seamanship...or insanity...or both.

Well done whichever it was.